Foot scraper having gravity operated latch means



P. B. MlMS Dec. 18, 1951 FOOT SCRAPER HAVING GRAVITY OPERATED LATCH MEANS -V Filed May 5, 1949 INVENTOR. lPHlLlP B.MIMS

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT SCRAPER HAVING GRAVITY OPERATED LATCH MEANS Philip B. Mims, Alexandria, Va.

Application May 5, 1949, Serial No. 91,561

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to foot scrapers and more particularly to an improved foot scraper of the self-storing type.

Foot scrapers are well-known in the art and, as a whole, are characterized by a number of disadvantages which tend to make them undesirable and unpopular although their function'of preventing mud, etc., from being tracked into a building is a highly important one.

Among these advantages are an unsightliness of structure and design; the constant danger of tripping over or falling on the scraper, especially among children; a difiiculty in removing mud, etc.,. from the scraper without dirtying the supporting floor, etc.; and, particularly in the selfstoring type, a lack of stability in use as well as difiiculty in moving the scraping blade to its operative or inoperative positions as well as holding it therein.

Accordingly the chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved foot scraper of the self-storing type which will obviate the above mentioned disadvantages of known prior art structures.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an ornamental iron foot scraper which may be readily attached to the post of an ornamental iron or other railing so as to blend therewith and be substantially unnoticeable thereon.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved, highly stabilized foot scraper of the self-storing type which may be manipulated to operative position or automatically returned to inoperative position by a light pressure of the foot.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved foot scraper oi the self-storing type wherein a blade-operative-position latch is combined with a blade release lever in such a manner as to keep the number of parts to a minimum and ensure continuous and trouble-free operation of the scraper.

, Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved foot scraper of the selfstoring type which is susceptible of ready and economical manufacture, light but rugged in construction, and stable and practical to use when extended in operative position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, I have shown one embodiment of" the invention. In this showing: a

Figure v1 is a front elevation of the invention V 2 t I showing it attachedto the post of a railing with the scraper blade in operative position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention showing the gravity operated latch holding the blade in operative position, the. railing to which the invention is attached being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view thereof to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention comprises an elongated post-com forming rectangular casing l0 formed of a pair of inwardly facing channel members l2 and M, the edges of the flanges of which are retained in abutting relationship by means of screws, etc-., l5. In order to accommodate a pivotable scraper blade I6, the flanges of the channel members 12 and 14 have been omitted or cutaway intermediate their ends.

The scraper blade I 6 is provided at its outward lower corner with a headed step pin 18 and is pivotally mounted within the casing II) at a point spaced from its inner lower corner by means of a screw 26, etc., which is inserted off-center in the members I12 and I4.

The lower inner corner of the scraper blade I 6 is provided with an aperture 22' to receive the; upper end of a tension spring 24 which issecured at its lower end to the screw I5. The spring 24 acts to return. the. blade l6 about it'sapivotlll from the operative position shown in Figures 1, 2 and t to the storage position shown in Figure 3'.

The scraper blade Iii is retained in the operative position, (Figures 1 and 2) by means of a latch 26 pivoted to the flange of the channel l2. A pair of stop lugs 23 and 30 arefixed respectively to the flanges of channels l2 and i4 and it is to be noted that the stop lug 28 is directly above the pivot of the latch 26.

It will now be readily apparent that, being prevented from attaining a vertical position, the latch 26 will be continuously urged by gravity toward the stop lug 30 and hence across the pivotal path of the blade [6. Movement of the latch into position against the stop lug 28 enables the blade IE to be then swung into storage position by the spring 24.

An important feature of the invention resides in a latch release. lever 32 which is fixed to or formed as the lower end of the pivoted latch 26 and projects outwardly therefrom. A downward pressure on the release lever 32 moves the latch 26 against the stop 28 to release the scraper blade as previously described.

The opposed spaced flanges of the channels 12 and I4 cooperate to hold the scraper blade substantially rigid when in the operative latched position. This important feature of stability is obtained by carrying the flanges of the channel l2 upwardly to the point 34 before cutting them away so as to support the rear face of the scraper blade I6. The cooperating flanges of channel H are cut about half away so as to support, with a close clearance, the front side of the blade.

The support of the flanges-is increased by a pair of stabilizing guide plates 36 and 38 (see Figure 4) fixed to the flanges of the channels 12 and I 4 respectively. It will thus be readily apparent that the scraper blade [6 is effectively prevented from rocking movement or play whenin operative position and particularly during the scraping of debris, etc., from shoes.

The casing I is provided with a pair of straps 40 which are adapted to be placed about a post P of a railing R and secured to the casing by means of bolts, etc. Thus, dirt may be brushed directly to the ground from the blade without dirtying a porch, etc. Optionally, the casing may be secured to wooden posts or surfaces by clamps or with screws, etc., or may be set upright in concrete.

The operation of the foot scraper is believed to be apparent. After installation, the scraper blade I6 may be readily moved to operative position (Figures 1, 2 and l) against the tension of the spring 24 by pushing downwardly on the step pin l8 until the bottom of the blade l6 strikes a stop flange 42 which may be fixed to or formed as a lower part of the stabilizing plate 38.

The latch 26, under the influence of gravity, now looks the scraper blade IS in place whereupon the latter is ready for its intended use. To return the blade to its storage position, downward pressure is applied to the release lever 32 causing the latch 26 to move out of the way against the stop 28 and permitting the spring 24 to swing the blade [6 upwardly Within the casing ID with the step pin l8 now acting as a stop pin.

It will now be readily apparent that the foot scraper comprising the present invention provides a stable attractive structure that can be mounted on a railing post and be inconspicuous thereon, it eliminates the hazard of tripping thereover as when not being used, it is moved out of the way to storage position. It may be readily swung into operative position or automatically returned to storage position without requiring the use of complicated or an excessive number of levers and springs. Thus, a simpler, stronger, more readily operable and more eflicient foot scraper is provided by the invention.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A foot scraper comprising a casing, a scraper blade pivoted thereto, the pivotal axis being normal to said blade, a spring mounted on said casing and urging said blade to inoperative position, a gravity operated latch pivotally mounted on said casing and holding said blade in opera- 4 tive position against the action of said spring, and a release lever mounted on said latch and operative to move said latch out of the path of said blade.

2. A foot scraper comprising a casing formed with an opening to receive a scraper blade therein, a scraper blade pivotally mounted to said casing at a point of the blade adjacent to but spaced from one end, a spring mounted in said casing and acting on said end to swing said blade about said point into said casing, and a gravity operated latch pivoted to said casing and operable to prevent swinging of said blade into said casing.

3. A foot scraper comprising a casing formed with an opening to receive a scraper blade therein, a scraper blade pivotally mounted to said casing at a point of the blade adjacent to but spaced from one end, a spring mounted in said casing and acting on said end to swingsaid blade about said point into said casing, a gravity operating latch pivoted to said casingv and operable to prevent swinging of said blade into said casing, and a release lever fixed to said latch and operable to withdraw the latch from the path of said blade.

4. A foot scraper comprising a-casing formed with an opening to receive a scraper blade therein, a scraper blade pivotally .mounted itoflsaid casing at a point of the blade adjacent to. but spaced from one end, a spring mounted in said casing and acting on said end to swing saidblade into said casing, a gravity operating latch pivoted to said casing and operableto preventswinging of said blade into said-casing, and a release lever fixed to said latch and operable to withdraw, the latch from the path of said blade, said casing opening being of such width as to .support both sides of said blade at spaced points .on each side of the blade when swung out of said easing into operative position.

5. A foot scraper adapted to be attached to and conform with an ornamental railing post comprising a pair of elongated channel, members joined to form a casingzthe flanges of saidchannels being partially cut away to form a scraper blade receiving slot, a blade pivotally mounted on said casing and swingable out of said slot into operable position, spring means mounted in said casing and acting on said blade to swing it into said easing into inoperative position; and a gravity operated latch pivoted to said casing and operableto lock the blade in operative position;

6. A foot scraper adapted to be attached to r and conform with an ornamental railing post comprising a pair of elongated channel members joined to form a casing, the flanges of said channels being partially cut away to form a scraper blade receiving slot, a blade pivotally mounted on said'casing and swingable out of said slot into operable position, spring meansmounted in said casing and acting on said blade to swing it into said casing into inoperative position, a gravity operated latch pivoted to said casing and operable to lock the blade in operative position, and a release lever projecting from said latch and operable to move it out of the path of said blade.

7. A foot scraper adapted .to beattached to and conform with an ornamental railing post. comprising a pair of elongated channel members joined to form a casing, the flanges of said channels being partially cut away to form a scraper blade receiving slot, a blade pivotally mounted on said casing and swingable out of said slot into operable position, spring means mounted in said casing and acting on said blade to swing it into said casing into inoperative position, a gravity operated latch pivoted to said casing and operable to lock the blade in operative position, a release lever projecting from said latch and operable to move it out of the path of said blade, and a pair of guide plates fixed to said flanges to form therewith a plurality of spaced stabilizing supports for both sides of said blade.

8. A foot scraper comprising 'a casing, a scraper blade pivoted thereto at a point of the blade adjacent to but spaced from one end, the pivotal axis being normal tosaid blade, a spring mounted on said casing and urging said blade to inoperative position, a gravity operated latch pivotally mounted on said casing and holding said blade in operative position against the action of said spring, and a release lever mounted on said latch and operative to move said latch out of the path of said blade.

9. A foot scraper comprising a casing, a scraper blade pivoted thereto at a point of the blade adjacent to but spaced from one end, the pivotal axis being normalto said blade, a spring mounted on said casing and acting on said end to urge said blade to inoperative position, a gravity operated latch pivotally mounted on said casing and holding said blade in operative 6 position against the action of said spring, and a release lever mounted on said latch and operative to move said latch out of the path of said blade.

10. A foot scraper comprising a frame, a scraper blade pivoted to said frame, the pivotal axis being normal to said blade, and a latch pivoted to said frame and operative by gravity to hold said blade in operative position.

PHILIPB. MIMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 817,171 Hibner Apr.. 10, 1906 1,372,552 Roberts Mar. 22, 1921 1,619,404 Crowe Mar. 1, 1927 1,666,568 Jackson Apr. 17, 1928 1,768,375 Santhony June: 24, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 254,203 Germany Nov. 27, 1912 745,021 France Jan. 31, 1933 595,279 Germany Apr. 7, 1934 

